Truck collides with trailer on Kansas Highway 16

A 72-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man's truck struck a trailer that was high-centered near Kansas Highway 16 on Friday.

Just after 10 a.m., a truck and trailer driven by Tom Waters, 29, Tonganoxie, was pulling out of the Angell's Excavating parking lot near Hatchell Road when the trailer, carrying a track hoe, high-centered on the east side of the highway.

Angell's Excavating owner Vince Angell tried to direct traffic away from the trailer. But a Dodge truck driven by George Koger, coming from the south on K-16, struck the trailer.

The 72-year-old had cuts on his hand and bruises on his arms, along with discomfort in his chest, but he declined medical attention.

"I guess I'm all right," Koger said.

Koger said he was coming up to the top of the hill when he saw the trailer. Driving about 50 mph, Koger said he tried to stop. But he couldn't avoid the collision as his truck rammed into the side of the trailer, knocking the track hoe off slightly.

Angell, who was standing in the middle of the highway trying to direct traffic, motioned to Koger to stop, but said he had to run to the side of the road so Koger's vehicle wouldn't hit him.

As for the track hoe, a worker operated the piece of equipment and maneuvered it off the trailer.